Genome-wide meta-analysis between renal overload type and renal underexcretion type of clinically defined gout in Japanese populations.

Despite progress in understanding of the genetic basis of gout, the precise factors affecting differences in gout susceptibility among different gout subtypes remain unclear. Using clinically diagnosed gout patients, we conducted a genome-wide meta-analysis of two distinct gout subtypes: the renal overload type and the renal underexcretion type. We provide genetic evidence at a genome-wide level of significance that supports a positive association between ABCG2 dysfunction and acquisition of the renal overload type.

Impact of general practice / family medicine clerkships on Japanese medical students: Using text mining to analyze reflective writing.

Background: In order for general practice / family medicine clerkships to be improved in undergraduate medical education, it is necessary to clarify the impacts of general practice / family medicine clerkships. Using text mining to analyze the reflective writing of medical students may be useful for further understanding the impacts of clinical clerkships on medical students.

Methods: The study involved 125 fifth-year Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine students in the academic year 2018-2019.

A Proposed Classification and Treatment Algorithm for Rectus Diastasis: A Prospective Study.

Background: This study presents a classification system and treatment method to correct Rectus diastasis (RD) during abdominoplasty.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixty seven patients undergoing abdominoplasty were enrolled between April 2014 and January 2018. Forty-three patients did not present with RD and were excluded from the analysis.

Incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Results From the DPV Registry.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Germany compared with previous years.

Research Design And Methods: Based on data from the multicenter German Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry, we analyzed the incidence of type 1 diabetes per 100,000 patient-years in children and adolescents from 1 January 2020 through 30 June 2021. Using Poisson regression models, expected incidences for 2020/21 were estimated based on the data from 2011 to 2019 and compared with observed incidences in 2020/21 by estimating incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs.

A complex form of hereditary spastic paraplegia harboring a novel variant, p.W1515*, in the gene.

Individuals with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) are known to present with a variety of symptoms, including intellectual disability, cognitive decline, parkinsonism, and epilepsy. We report here our experience of treating a family with consanguinity, including three patients with HSP-related symptoms. We performed whole-exome sequencing and identified a novel pathogenic nonsense variant, c.

Understanding the bias in machine learning systems for cardiovascular disease risk assessment: The first of its kind review.

Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI), in particular, machine learning (ML) has shown promising results in coronary artery disease (CAD) or cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction. Bias in ML systems is of great interest due to its over-performance and poor clinical delivery. The main objective is to understand the nature of risk-of-bias (RoB) in ML and non-ML studies for CVD risk prediction.

Factors associated between behavior of administrating or recommending mumps vaccine and primary care physicians' knowledge about vaccination: A nationwide cross-sectional study in Japan.

Background: In Japan, the mumps-containing vaccine was withdrawn from routine vaccination in 1993, and it became a voluntary vaccination. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the physicians' knowledge about vaccinations and the administration or recommendation of the mumps vaccine.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study targeting primary care physicians (PCPs) in Japan.

COVLIAS 1.0 vs. MedSeg: Artificial Intelligence-Based Comparative Study for Automated COVID-19 Computed Tomography Lung Segmentation in Italian and Croatian Cohorts.

(1) Background: COVID-19 computed tomography (CT) lung segmentation is critical for COVID lung severity diagnosis. Earlier proposed approaches during 2020-2021 were semiautomated or automated but not accurate, user-friendly, and industry-standard benchmarked. The proposed study compared the COVID Lung Image Analysis System, COVLIAS 1.

Unseen Artificial Intelligence-Deep Learning Paradigm for Segmentation of Low Atherosclerotic Plaque in Carotid Ultrasound: A Multicenter Cardiovascular Study.

Background: The early detection of carotid wall plaque is recommended in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in moderate-risk patients. Previous techniques for B-mode carotid atherosclerotic wall plaque segmentation used artificial intelligence (AI) methods on monoethnic databases, where training and testing are from the "same" ethnic group ("Seen AI"). Therefore, the versatility of the system is questionable.

Optimal management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis in 2021: the jury is still out. An international, multispecialty, expert review and position statement.

The recommendations of international guidelines for the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) often vary considerably and extend from a conservative approach with risk factor modification and best medical treatment (BMT) alone, to a more aggressive approach with a carotid intervention plus BMT. The aim of the current multispecialty position statement was to reconcile the conflicting views on the topic. A literature review was performed with a focus on data from recent studies.

Clinical significance of a novel reticulocyte-based erythropoietin resistance index in HD patients: A retrospective study.

Introduction: The erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) is an indicator of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) responsiveness and is typically calculated using Hb. However, Hb does not directly reflect ESA-induced erythropoiesis because of its long-term nature. We thus designed a novel ERI calculated with reticulocyte Hb (RetHb), a real-time index, and investigated its association with mortality in HD patients.

Determination of relationship between foot arch, hindfoot, and hallux motion using Oxford foot model: Comparison between walking and running.

Background: The foot arch plays an important role in propulsion and shock absorption during walking and running; however, the relationship among the foot arch, metatarsal locking theory, and nature of the windlass mechanism (WM) remain unclear.

Research Question: What are the differences in the kinematic relationship between the foot arch, hindfoot, and hallux during walking and running?

Methods: Relative angles within the foot were measured in 18 healthy men using the Oxford foot model (OFM). Data for barefoot walking at a comfortable speed and rearfoot running at 2.

Automated deep learning-based paradigm for high-risk plaque detection in B-mode common carotid ultrasound scans: an asymptomatic Japanese cohort study.

Background: The death due to stroke is caused by embolism of the arteries which is due to the rupture of the atherosclerotic lesions in carotid arteries. The lesion formation is over time, and thus, early screening is recommended for asymptomatic and moderate-risk patients. The previous techniques adopted conventional methods or semi-automated and, more recently, machine learning solutions.

COMPERA 2.0: a refined four-stratum risk assessment model for pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Background: Risk stratification plays an essential role in the management of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The current European guidelines propose a three-stratum model to categorise risk as low, intermediate or high, based on the expected 1-year mortality. However, with this model, most patients are categorised as intermediate risk.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the occurrence of spinal cord ischemia after endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: The rate of endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA-ER) has increased considerably in recent years. Although the mortality and morbidity rates have improved, the incidence of spinal cord ischemia (SCI) has not declined significantly. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the SCI rates with respect to the efficacy of the different approaches.

Optimal Management of Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis in 2021: The Jury is Still Out. An International, Multispecialty, Expert Review and Position Statement.

Objectives: The recommendations of international guidelines for the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis (ACS) often vary considerably and extend from a conservative approach with risk factor modification and best medical treatment (BMT) alone, to a more aggressive approach with a carotid intervention plus BMT. The aim of the current multispecialty position statement is to reconcile the conflicting views on the topic.

Materials And Methods: A literature review was performed with a focus on data from recent studies.

Temporal trends in pulmonary arterial hypertension: results from the COMPERA registry.

Background: Since 2015, the European pulmonary hypertension guidelines recommend the use of combination therapy in most patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, it is unclear to what extent this treatment strategy is adopted in clinical practice and if it is associated with improved long-term survival.

Methods: We analysed data from COMPERA, a large European pulmonary hypertension registry, to assess temporal trends in the use of combination therapy and survival of patients with newly diagnosed PAH between 2010 and 2019.

Decrease in serum anti-Müllerian hormone level per puncture with laparoscopic ovarian drilling using ultrasonically activated device.

Purpose: To determine the contributing factor in infertility treatment with laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) to the decrease in serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome using an ultrasonically activated device.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in 60 patients (aged 23-36 years) who received 25-120 punctures in each ovary with LOD treatment from January 2014 to December 2018.

Results: The mean decrease in serum AMH level per puncture with LOD was 0.

The hernia sac-A suitable source for obtaining mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Inguinal hernia sac, extended tissue from peritoneum, gradually enlarged in size with hernia disease time and prolapsed tissue volume. We hypothesize that mesenchymal stem cells are present in the development of hernia sac. The current study aimed to test the hypothesis that hernia sac, which is often resected and discarded as medical waste, contains mesenchymal stem cells and thus might be a suitable source to harvest mesenchymal stem cells.

DCP1A is an unfavorable prognostic-related enhancer RNA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are associated with occurrence and development of tumors. Enhancer RNA (eRNA) is a special type of lncRNAs produced from transcription of enhancer elements. The function of eRNAs in tumors have elicited significant attention recently.

Extensive calcification of the mitral valve annulus in transcatheter aortic valve implants.

Objectives: This study sought to report the calcification pattern of the mitral valve annulus and its implications for procedural and safety outcomes in transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods: Between November 2018 and September 2019, a total of 305 patients had transcatheter aortic valve implants at our institution. The extent of calcification of the mitral valve annulus was analysed, and the impact on safety outcomes was evaluated.